Within the research project TFE-NRW the Wuppertal Institute evaluated the research demand for energy system transformation technologies in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). The aim was to find out which technologies and areas of research in the context of energy research for NRW could be particularly important in relation to the assessment for Germany, taking into account the special requirements of NRW, for which special support in the context of energy research seems justified.
31 technology fields from the fields of renewable energies, conventional power plants, infrastructure, technologies for sector coupling (Power-to-X, P2X), energy and resource-efficient buildings, energy and resource efficiency in industry and integrative aspects were considered, which were qualitatively assessed with the help of a criteria grid.
Subsequently, the researchers of the German Economic Institute determined an initial assessment of the economic opportunities of eight of the most relevant fields of technology for North Rhine-Westphalia. With the help of a gap analysis, the Wuppertal Institute identified the need for action specifically for North Rhine-Westphalia is then identified for these fields of technology. Finally, they develop criteria and derive additional impulses for innovative projects as parts of the energy system of the future in the Rhenish and Ruhr regions.